SKIPJACK1963
New member
I have had an Orange Skunk Clown in my 55 gal. reef for about 2 years who had instantly adopted my Corkscrew Anemone and still coexist in "perfect" harmony, but I'm a little worried about the following feeding behavior change in the clown (I'll refer to as she/her as I don't no the sex).
Just to give a little background on their relationship, early on and through about a week and a half ago the clown has always been aggressive during feeding time (frozen brine shrimp) in the manner that she would eat voraciously and would fight out any stragglers that she could from the anemone. This was also true of when I spot fed krill to the anemone which had been a challenge just to get past the guard of the clown. Note the anemone is doing great and still is. But up until a week or so I have some concern because the clown appears to not be feeding as it once had. Now during feeding she seems to first protect the anemone from the incoming brine by mouthing them and expelling them out almost as an "protect from attack mode". Then when most of the brine has been consumed by my other tank inhabitants the clown picks up some leftover brine scraps and offers back to the anemone by mouthing and expelling back to the anemone which is fine but now the clown does not feed herself at all and is all cosumed with this new behavior during feeding. Also note she does look perfectly healthy (brightly colored, active, no indication of any illness) the only change is feeding. Should I be concerned or may this just be a phase? Any help is greatly appreciated., Thanks HARRY
Water Chemistry:
Nitrates: 0
Phosphates: 0.1
Calcium: 400ppm
PH: 8.2
Salinity: 1.023
Other Fish Inhabitants: (All of which are non aggressive and live well together)
Green Wrasse
6 Line Wrasse
Shrimp Goby
Magenta Dottyback
Cleaner Shrimp
Red leg Hermits
Astrelle Snails
Just to give a little background on their relationship, early on and through about a week and a half ago the clown has always been aggressive during feeding time (frozen brine shrimp) in the manner that she would eat voraciously and would fight out any stragglers that she could from the anemone. This was also true of when I spot fed krill to the anemone which had been a challenge just to get past the guard of the clown. Note the anemone is doing great and still is. But up until a week or so I have some concern because the clown appears to not be feeding as it once had. Now during feeding she seems to first protect the anemone from the incoming brine by mouthing them and expelling them out almost as an "protect from attack mode". Then when most of the brine has been consumed by my other tank inhabitants the clown picks up some leftover brine scraps and offers back to the anemone by mouthing and expelling back to the anemone which is fine but now the clown does not feed herself at all and is all cosumed with this new behavior during feeding. Also note she does look perfectly healthy (brightly colored, active, no indication of any illness) the only change is feeding. Should I be concerned or may this just be a phase? Any help is greatly appreciated., Thanks HARRY
Water Chemistry:
Nitrates: 0
Phosphates: 0.1
Calcium: 400ppm
PH: 8.2
Salinity: 1.023
Other Fish Inhabitants: (All of which are non aggressive and live well together)
Green Wrasse
6 Line Wrasse
Shrimp Goby
Magenta Dottyback
Cleaner Shrimp
Red leg Hermits
Astrelle Snails
